We all know that the holiday season can be overwhelmingly busy and expensive, but sometimes it’s the little and thoughtful gifts that mean the most. What better gift to give someone than to let them know you were thinking about them while you were on your trip to Vancouver? There are plenty of cheesy souvenir shops all along Robson Street where you can find Vancouver fridge magnets, t-shirts, faux Olympic gear and shot glasses with a polar bear sitting in it.

Native American Art is something that you will see a lot of while you’re in Vancouver. The story behind each piece and the amount of time spent on it is both intriguing and impressive. There are a handful galleries in Gastown that sell these lovely pieces, but they may be out of your price range when looking for a bargain Christmas present. Luckily for you, there are plenty of smaller prints that are very affordable and still allow you to take home a piece of this fantastic artwork.

Under the Granville Street is this fantastic display

Vancouver is well known for our salmon and smoked salmon is a definitely a popular gift for the foodie in your life. You can find vacuumed sealed smoked salmon that does not need refrigeration before opening at many grocery stores downtown. This gift is affordable and won’t break the bank, plus it takes up very little room in your suitcase. Salmon Village on Robson and Thurlow is exactly what it sounds like; a store filled with all kinds of cold smoked, canned, hot smoked and other salmon delectables! Salmon pate, anyone? Plus, the packaging is usually very esthetically pleasing.

The salmon options are endless!

Calendars may not seem like the most exciting gift, but it’s the best way to show how beautiful Vancouver is all year long. Calendars are cheap, practical and a gift that gives all year. They’re also easy to find at bookstores, card shops and other souvenir stores around town.

With pictures like this, your friends and family will be jealous of your trip out to Vancouver.

The holiday season is often quite cold here in Vancouver and we typically bundle up with warm jackets, toques (see: knitted hat), scarves and gloves to keep the chill out and the warm in. When the Olympics were here last winter, the hot ticket item that sold out when each shipment came in was the famous red gloves. Luckily for you, The Bay has brought out these cozy gloves for your buying pleasure again. For $10, you will be giving a gift that keeps your loved ones warm and also giving back to charity. Now, doesn’t that make you feel and warm and fuzzy?

Oh Canada!

You may also want to pick up some Olympic gear while you’re in Vancouver. The Bay was home of the official Olympic store and they are still carrying some Olympic swag. Between the gloves and all the other gear they sell, you can easily do a one-stop-shop and be set for all of your Chanukah gifts!

See? A toque!

If you’re thinking about those adult friends who have been extra nice this year, why not bring them back a bottle of BC wine? Ice wine is a very popular item that people buy when in BC, but our wineries are producing stellar products and offer a variety of wines that will suit even the pickiest wine drinker. The holiday cheer will be flowing and your friends and family will thank you for their BC poison. Besides, with all the holiday parties and New Year’s Eve festivities, it’s a gift that will come in handy.

The holidays are soon approaching, have you started your shopping yet?